Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1887-06-02

Power IN COm8reess
General Greedy, Chief of the Signal
Service, speaking Of his inability to
do full justice to California in his
weather reports because OF the in
sufIiciency of the appropriation, says,
point blank, that the Pacific Coast is
i gnored in Congress because its rep
resentatives do not make a united
stand, and vote against everything
that is proposed for other sections
until their power is felt and much
larger appropriations are granted.
This is the principle Of the Boycott
pure and simple. 1t also smacks OF
the policy Of the Home-Rulers in the
British Commons. In parliamentary
tactics, q small and determined
group, animated by one purpose, can
achieve results altogether dispropor-
toned to their strength numerically.
Where parties are evenly balanced a
parliamentary condotierri will hold
the balance of power in all political
measures and where important APP
preparation bills are acted upon in
Committee of the Whole, each item
being submitted in detail, small
group Of representatives determined
TO force q liberal recognition OF their
own section, could not fail to bring
the House to terms. Therefore it
only rests with the representatives OF
the Pacific Coast to coalesce on the
subject OF appropriations for their
section, and to present a united and
aggressive front, to force Congress to
recognize their just demands. There
are minor prejudices and difficulties
to be overcome before perfect har-
mony Of action can be attained. But
with shrewd and sensible men
these difficulties can readily be
brushed aside. They are mainly
prejudices arising from local jeal-
ousies-the representatives OF one
locality being always afraid that
. rival locality will get larger plum
than themselves. But this kind OF
feeling ought to give way to the gen.
eral increase of appropriations that
can be secured, by harmonious &C.
tion, for every locality on the coast.
Would it not be well hereafter for all
the representatives from the Pacific
coast in Congress to form coalition,
offensive and defensive, on the sub
ject OF appropriations? This would
See m to be the true policy for them |
to adopt. 1t would be found to work
to a charm. When the members in
in appropriating one or two
millions for deepening the channel of
creek found that they
could not carry their project through
without conciliating the Pacific coast
they would soon come to
terms. So with the hundreds of
other extravagant appropriations for
the improvement Of creeks and
sloughs hardly known TO the maps,
but which are strongly backed at
every session by Eastern and West
ern members. To theoretically OPP
pose these doubtful propositions,
would give the Pacific coast members
. prestige in Congress that would
enable them to compel the members
rom other sections to do us justice.
We would throw out another idea,
however, in this connection, which.
when carried out, will very measure
bly, increase the power of California
N Congress. The division of the
State would give us two additional
United States Senators, and South
California would have at least one
more representative in the House
han it has now. That would help
he whole coast very materially, but
would make the new State
lone a power in Congress near
v equal to that of the whole
4 California now. 1t would
,Iace South California in position !
o compel Congress to do our section {
ustice. Instead of doing out pitiful .
ums to improve the harbor OF Will ,,
to strengthen the defences /
Il San Diego, to build breakwater G
i Port Hartford, a lighthouse here 7
md public building there, We would !;
ecure such appropriations as were n
ldequate to push to completion in a
easonable time the great public
FORKS urgently required. Not only
he harbors mentioned would be
peedily improved, but new harbors y
other points would be developed, :
nd the wants of maritime commerce y
4 this coast would not be shame = !,
lily ignored as they are now. Until I.
e shall have established the new q
Iate Of South California, it might be =
eli to adopt the tactics recon- o
ended by General Greedy. Am